‘Warm, witty and friendly’ animator and director from Derbyshire dies
and live on Freeview channel 276
Alan Short, who was born in Uppertown, Ashover, worked for Aardman Animations and helped to produce the hit film Arthur Christmas.
He spent most of his life living in Clay Cross with his partner Surinder and his four children Sonny, Ambi, Rubi and Jas.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdA spokesperson for Air Edel – which represented Mr Short – said: “Alan had the ability to light up any room that he entered and make people laugh.
“His warmth, wit and friendliness were infectious and his work was always impeccable.
“He will be very lovingly remembered and greatly missed by colleagues and friends around the world.”
After playing bass and songwriting in a heavy metal band, Mr Short went on to study traditional animation at West Surrey College of Art and Design, graduating in 1991.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdHe spent more than nine years as a senior animator and director at Bristol-based Aardman Animations, and in 2007 was appointed head of CGI for the company.
Mr Short was nominated for various accolades and won an RTS award for his work on Predators (2000), a BAFTA for The Dinosaur Hunters (2002) and numerous gongs for the short film Fly (2010), which he wrote, animated and directed.
He was animation director on the 3D, CG-animated family comedy Arthur Christmas in 2011.
The Aardman and Sony production received a BAFTA nomination for best animated feature.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdIn 2016, Mr Short co-directed the BBC and Netflix mini-series production of the Richard Adams’ classic and Emmy-nominated Watership Down.
He also wrote many witty and poignant short stories and scripts.